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The weather of the West Coast of Scotland this week has been a tad unpredictable with continously alternating rain showers and sunny intervals - leaving us all a little frustrated as we find ourselves unprepaired for the day ahead (Though we can't deny it's doing wonders for the Island's flora)

Though it would seem that this little predicament of ours is likely to continue, with weather reports remaining unhelpfully vague.

Today: Sunshine throughout the morning with frequent showers in the afternoon

Monday: Expect light showers for the best part of the day, with patches of sunshine throughout.

Tuesday: Following a misty morning things are looking to clear up leaving us with lots of sunshine in the morning and afternoon.

Wednesday: Likely to be cloudy for the most of the morning, with rain showers commencing throughout the afternoon.

Thursday: A mixture of light and heavy rain expected to domintate the day.

Friday: Things look to dry up a little, with rain forecast only for the later part of the evening.

Saturday: The weeks forecast ends on a rather vague note with more rain and sunshine predicted throughout.

With just over twenty days until the first (meteorological) day of summer we certainly hope that the rain subsides to allow our guests the delights of enjoying their lunches and afternoon tea in the sunshine with a nice glass of Pimms at hand.

Though even these tedious drizzles cannot stop us from making full use of the Island's facilties. Clay Pigeon Shooting in particular has proven to be popular amongst Eriska's residents this week and is something we would definately recommend it to those coming to visit us over the coming season.

With forecasts of thick grey cloud and frequent showers, the weather last week left little to be desired to the residents of the West Coast. However, we found ourselves pleasantly surprised more than once when the sun fought through to give us the sunshine that we so desperately crave.

With the summer months creeping even closer we're hoping for a few more weeks of beach weather over the coming season, though looking ahead it appears that may be a little too optimistic.

Today: A mixture of heavy and light rain throughout

Monday: A dry start to the day with rain showers appearing early afternoon and continuing for the duratin of the day

Tuesday: Looks to be mostly dry with sporadic rain showers and some sunny intervals

Wednesday: Heavy rain to dominate most of the morning and afternoon, with things drying up in the evening

Thursday: Following a dry night, rain is predicted to make a reapperance with some more sunny intervals.

Friday: Looks to be mainly unchanged with more showers or rain and periodic bursts of sunshine

Saturday: Rain showers anticipated to calm down and turn into a light drizzle that with continue throughout the best part of the day. Expect some infrequent sunshine.

It doesn't seem the best of news for those working up the hill on the installation of our two new hilltop reserves this week, with an abundance of rain to slow them down.

If you're in the area you may be lucky to witness the progress first hand as you explore the Island (though perhaps grab a pair of wellies and an umbrella from the main house first!) and get your first experience our new self-catering reserves.

With Easter well and truly over and April coming to a close, some of us may find ourselves patting our chocolate-filled bellies, enjoying the sunshine from the comfort of a lounger in the garden and stocking up on barbecue supplies in preparation of the summer months.

The first week of May brings us Get Walking Week – a festival created to encourage the populace to get active and explore the wonders that await them outside their doorstep, wither it’s making short journeys on foot instead of taking the car or finding time out with working hours to enjoy a more lengthy trek.

Why Walk?

Without trying to state the obvious – walking is good for you.

Keen walkers frequently boast of the physical and mental benefits of walking; stating that as well as being a good way to stay fit and tone lower-body muscles, it also offers a form of stress relief and can greatly improve your mood.

Further to the health benefits that come with walking, Britain’s beautiful and diverse landscapes – in particular the West Coast of Scotland (in our unbiased opinion!) – have many nature walks, national parks and mountain paths to explore, offering breath-taking scenery out onto lochs, glens and forests.

Getting Started

The best thing about walking is that anyone can enjoy it: it’s free and you can go at your own pace. All you need is a pair of shoes and you’re ready to get going!

Start of small, building up your pace and distance through time – it’s never a good idea to over exert yourself, which could lead to injuries like sprains.

For those who fancy a slightly lengthier walk; it’s always a good idea to bring plenty of water and some snacks with fast-releasing carbohydrates like fruit. (A raincoat wouldn’t go amiss either!)

Avoiding Soreness and Fatigue

Muscle soreness and fatigue is a symptom and consequence of most physical activities and is usually fixed with a good rest. Though you’re unlikely to get any from light strolls and shorter walks, long and hilly ventures could leave you sore for days!

Massage is a useful tool to help relieve tightness and stiffness in muscle tissue and can reduce fatigue and soreness by increasing the blood circulation, bringing more oxygen and nutrients into the muscle.

For walkers we would recommend getting a leg specific massage to concentrate on easing the tension in your tired limbs before going on your next adventure!